Press Releases

SACRAMENTO – State Senator Josh Becker has named tenants’ rights and affordable housing advocate Emily Ann Ramos, a Mountain View resident, the 2022 Woman of the Year for the 13^th Senate District.

To mark Women’s History Month and just one day before International Women’s Day, Senator Becker honored Ms. Ramos in a surprise presentation Monday [March 7] during a virtual staff meeting held by Silicon Valley at Home, better known as SV@Home, where Ms. Ramos works as the organization’s Preservation and Protection Associate.

In an effort to repurpose the multimillion dollars’ worth of surplus medications that are discarded in California each year, Senator Josh Becker announced legislation today to make it easier for county health systems to operate pharmacies that can fill prescriptions for indigent patients at no cost by using surplus medications that would otherwise go waste.

Senator Josh Becker announced legislation today to extend California’s Universal Meals funding – which will soon make free breakfast and lunch available to all public school students – to state-licensed daycare providers so they also can provide free meals to children who are too young to attend school. “California’s youngest children cannot be left out of our state’s groundbreaking meals policy to tackle food insecurity among learners,” he said.

Senator Josh Becker introduced SB 948 today to substantially reduce costs for affordable housing projects in the state by enabling affordable housing developers to make the best use of limited financial resources. “We must do everything in our power to address the affordable housing crisis in our communities, including coming up with creative ways to free up existing resources to build more affordable homes,” he said.

Senator Becker’s SB 917 would create a more seamless integrated Bay Area transit system that works better for riders and ultimately draws more members of the public back onto transit. “We must act quickly to entice riders back to public transit—and put the rider experience front and center,” said Senator Becker. The bill requires transit agencies in the region to work together to develop an integrated transit fare structure, develop a single regional transit map and standardized wayfinding system, and more.

The San Mateo County Community College District would be granted more flexibility to help students experiencing financial hardship meet the cost of attendance – including the authority to waive enrollment fees – under a bill introduced by Senator Josh Becker. “Increasing access to higher education is life-changing. It is one of the most important things we can do for our residents to ensure economic mobility for our entire community,” said Senator Becker. “I’m proud to work with the San Mateo County Community College District on Senate Bill 893.”

For Immediate Release

SACRAMENTO –State Senator Josh Becker introduced legislation today to create the statewide Digital Education Equity Program, called DEEP, to provide California public school districts with equitable access to the professional development for teachers and technical assistance that enable schools to effectively use technology in education.

California’s renters tax credit would be updated to help low-income households, especially those with children, under a broadly supported bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Steve Glazer and coauthored by Senator Josh Becker. “California renters are caught between the soaring costs to keep a roof over their heads and the scarcity of affordable housing. No one feels the squeeze as much as low-income families. This legislation would increase the renters tax credit for those who need it most," said Senator Becker.